McDowell refutes CIA interrogation claims

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell yesterday rejected an assertion that CIA operatives would have the power to come to Ireland to interrogate people in secret.

As the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) confirmed it intends to examine the Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance between the US and Ireland, Mr McDowell issued a detailed and emphatic rebuttal of yesterday’s article in the Irish Examiner.

The agreement, signed by Mr McDowell and US Ambassador James Kenny last week, will give both countries extensive powers to discover documents, conduct searches and search bank accounts in each other’s jurisdiction.